Fairfax County saw high early voting turnout for this year’s presidential election, though the numbers didn’t reached the levels seen during the last presidential cycle.
Since early voting began on Sept. 20, over 322,000 residents, or 43% of the county’s 748,492 registered voters, have cast a vote, as of Friday (Nov. 2), the last day of in-person early voting, the Fairfax County Office of Elections posted on Twitter.
Most of those votes — 239,326 ballots — were cast in person at the county’s 16 early voting sites, with the remainder submitted by mail and dropbox. Additionally, the county has received 82,744 absentee ballots, representing 72% of the 114,183 ballots mailed to registered voters.
This turnout is lower than in the 2020 presidential election, which saw nearly 415,000 county residents, or 54% of registered voters, voting early or by mail.
Even so, interest in early in-person voting over Election Day turnout has increased significantly since Virginia expanded early and absentee voting options in 2019. For perspective, the 2016 presidential election only saw about 19% of registered Fairfax County voters opt for absentee voting.
Statewide, early voting numbers are also lower compared to 2020, Virginia’s first year with no-excuse absentee voting. According to the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP), approximately 2.3 million people have voted so far in the 2024 election, down from 2.7 million during the same period in 2020.
Where and how to vote
More than 260 polling locations across Fairfax County opened today (Tuesday) at 6 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. Voters in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
To ensure a smooth voting process, residents are encouraged to confirm their registration status via the Virginia Department of Elections website and double-check their precinct and polling locations using the Department of Elections Citizen Portal or the My Neighborhood tool.
Voters should carry an acceptable form of identification to the polls, though those without one can still vote by signing an identity confirmation statement at their polling location.
Completed absentee ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. today. They can be dropped off at any time outside the Fairfax County Government Center, during voting hours inside the Office of Elections (suite 323), and at designated drop-off boxes at all county precinct voting locations.
Ballots sent by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and arrive at the county’s elections office by noon this Friday (Nov. 8).
Who’s on the ballot?
In addition to the closely watched presidential race, where several polls show Vice President Kamala Harris leading former President Donald Trump in Virginia by 8 to 10 percentage points, Fairfax County residents will decide several other contentious elections.
In Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, which includes parts of southern Fairfax County, the race to succeed Jennifer Wexton has come down to State Sen. Suhas Subramanyam (D) and Republican Mike Clancy.
Stepping down due to health reasons, Wexton endorsed Subramanyam, who won the Democratic primary with 30.4% of the vote from a field of 12 candidates. Clancy secured the Republican nomination with 64.2% of the vote. The campaign has seen significant fundraising by both candidates, with Subramanyam raising $2.6 million and Clancy nearly $1.1 million, as of Oct. 16, per VPAP.
In the 11th Congressional District, Rep. Gerry Connolly handily won a primary challenge from Ahsan Nasar, setting him up to face off against Republican Michael Van Meter for the general election.
Connolly is seeking his ninth term, continuing his long tenure in a district that includes most of Fairfax County.
Incumbent Sen. Tim Kaine is also being challenged by Republican Hung Cao, who previously lost his bid for Wexton’s seat in the 2022 midterms.
In Herndon, Councilmember Pradip Dhakal is competing against Councilmember Keven LeBlanc for mayor.
Dhakal was endorsed by the Fairfax County Democratic Committee. LeBlanc, supported by outgoing Mayor Sheila Olem, has criticized the involvement of political parties in the town’s officially nonpartisan elections.
The town council race also features a mix of incumbents and newcomers vying for seats.
Additionally, Virginia voters are considering a referendum on a constitutional amendment to extend tax exemptions for spouses of soldiers killed in the line of duty.
Fairfax County is seeking approval for two bond measures that would fund transportation and public safety improvements, including $180 million for Metro enhancements and $126 million for the construction and renovation of justice and emergency services facilities.
